A Touch of Gold

The Palace of the Liberty in Bruges dates from the 1700s. Liberty was an area surrounding medieval Bruges. The gold-trimmed building later functioned as a courthouse and subsequently housed the city council's administration. It is situated on the main town square.

The Quiet Before the Swarm

Excursion boats that will soon carry tourists though the canals of Bruges. This image was taken early in the morning while the streets were very quiet and the morning fog still filled the air.

Oude Burg Street

The old section of Bruges contains many streets filled with restaurants, hotels, antique stores and other interesting businesses to spend your time.

Secluded Spot

This secluded canal-side spot provided a quiet respite from the crowds of tourists who flock to Bruges to enjoy a sense of the Middle Ages.

Bruges

With a few easy tweaks my photos of Bruges end up appearing as though they were taken in another era. Some folks don't care for this "frozen in time" aspect of this historic city, but I found it absolutely charming. I added an old paper texture to this photo, taken across from the main canal.

Gateway to Bruges

This is actually a composite of two of my Belgium photos. The wooden doorway is actually a part of the Ghent castle property and the view through the doorway is a street near the train station in Bruges. I added a texture for which I have no source, unfortunately, as well as several adjustment layers in Photoshop CS3.

Peaceful Morning

This canal lies in the heart of Bruges. While many think this medieval city is a tourist trap, it's not that difficult to find quiet corners and beautiful, timeless scenes such a this one.
Textures by temari, Shadowhouse Creations and temari.

Quiet Canal Scene

Some parts of Bruges seem timeless. This is especially true along some of the canals where you can imagine yourself in a past era. I've added one of my favorite textures from Shadowhouse Creations called Cosmic Bang.

Along the Dijver

Dijver is the name of both the street and the canal in the scene above. The Church of Our Lady rises in the background. At 367 feet, it is the tallest structure in Bruges and the second tallest brickwork tower in the world according to Wikipedia.

I've added textures by Emma Cox and les brumes on Flickr.

Bruges Belfry

Bruge's medieval bell tower was first erected on the main market square of the town in 1290, but fires and multiple modifications over the years have resulted in the current tower. You can climb 366 steps to the top for a fine view over the town and countryside.

Textures by Shadowhouse Creations and ruby blossom were added.

Waiting to Cruise the Canals

Cruising the peaceful and timeless canals of Bruges is a wonderful way to see this historic town, especially if you find that your feet are tired from walking and walking over all the cobblestones! There are several boat companies to choose from and the tours last for approximately 30 minutes. This is one of several embarkation points that we saw.

I added a couple of textures courtesy of Shadowhouse Creations.

St. Bonafacius Bridge, Bruges

I loved this stone pedestrian bridge over the canal in Bruges. Although the bridge seems to date back to Medieval times, it was actually built in 1910 to blend with the surrounding buildings.

I've added a texture from Shadowhouse Creations.

Dragon Downspout

Dragons always catch my eye, so I was tickled to see this little dragon downspout along a canal in the medieval town of Bruges, Belgium.

I've added a texture from cleanzor.

Dolphin Fountain

I've seen many variations of these dolphin fountains throughout Europe. This particular one is located in the town of Bruges, Belgium. Bruges is another of those places that feels as though it's been forgotten by the passage of time, especially if you find a quiet corner like this one.

I added a gold texture by the name of  Sand and Stones from Jodi and then I adjusted the contrast with Curves.